Nationwide 'Hands Off!' Protests Condemn Trump-Musk Agenda

Mass protests labeled 'Hands Off!' targeting Trump-Musk policy initiatives

Nationwide 'Hands Off!' Protests Condemn Trump-Musk Agenda

DECK
Hundreds of mass demonstrations erupt across the U.S. and abroad as citizens rally against sweeping policy changes, job cuts, and threats to civil liberties under President Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

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KEY FACTS

• What: Mass protests labeled 'Hands Off!' targeting Trump-Musk policy initiatives

• Where: Across all 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and major global cities like London and Paris

• When: Saturday, during coordinated nationwide events

• Why: Response to what organizers call a “billionaire power grab” undermining democracy

• How Many: Over 1,400 events; nearly 600,000 attendees signed up

• Demands: End to billionaire influence, protection of public services, defense of vulnerable communities

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SITUATION SNAPSHOT
From coast to coast, chants echoed through the streets as banners waved above swelling crowds unified in resistance. At the National Mall, voices rose beneath stormy skies as demonstrators decried what they described as an erosion of democracy and human rights. Similar scenes unfolded from Los Angeles to Lafayette, with protesters marching, chanting, and demanding change.

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WHAT WE KNOW
The 'Hands Off!' campaign was launched by a coalition of civil rights groups, veterans, women’s organizations, unions, and LGBTQ+ advocates, co-led by Indivisible. Their mission: push back against what they deem the Trump administration’s authoritarian slide, compounded by Elon Musk’s growing federal influence through the Department of Government Efficiency.
Protest sites included federal offices, state capitols, parks, and symbolic locations nationwide. Key figures such as Rep. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Rep. Maxwell Frost addressed thousands in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the threats posed by executive overreach, economic inequality, and suppression of dissent.

Millions of people took part in protests against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk across all 50 states and globally on Saturday

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WHAT’S NEXT
Organizers announced plans to maintain pressure through grassroots action, lobbying, and legal challenges. Labor unions have initiated lawsuits against the administration’s policies. Lawmakers pledged to continue resisting legislation that reduces federal support for healthcare, education, and public sector employment. Protest leaders say this is only the beginning of a long-term campaign.

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VOICES ON THE GROUND
“Our founders wrote a Constitution that does not begin with ‘We the dictators,’ the preamble says ‘We the people,’” said Rep. Jamie Raskin.
“If you want a country that still believes in due process, we have to fight for it,” urged Rep. Ilhan Omar.
“Throughout human history, authoritarians... push the limits, they break the law,” warned Rep. Maxwell Frost.
“They thought we were easy targets... But we will not be silenced,” declared AFGE President Everett Kelley.
“This administration is targeting everybody who isn’t part of the 1%,” organizers said.

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CONTEXT 
Since taking office, President Trump has aggressively pursued cuts across federal agencies, with Elon Musk leading initiatives to slash budgets and reduce government roles in healthcare, climate policy, and foreign aid. More than 121,000 federal employees have been dismissed, and agencies like Social Security and USAID face internal crises.
Climate regulations have been rolled back, union rights curtailed, and mass deportation plans touted. Protesters see these moves as part of a broader authoritarian shift, with critics highlighting suppression of speech and the militarization of immigration policy.

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REPORTER INSIGHT
In Lafayette, Indiana, a tense moment highlighted the risks of civil unrest when a man armed with a long gun confronted demonstrators but was released after an investigation. Yet, overall, the protests remained largely peaceful, a testament to the power of organized, nonviolent resistance. From union halls to college campuses, a new chapter of civic engagement is unfolding—loud, passionate, and determined to hold the line against what many see as the unraveling of American democratic norms.